Jackson, Tennessee, Personal Injury & Workers' Compensation Law Blog

Many people who work in Tennessee also carry their own health insurance. Some people are lucky enough to receive employer sponsored health benefits, while others pay for their entire premium out of pocket. Regardless of whether you pay your own insurance or your employer does, you shouldn't turn to that insurance if you wind up sick or hurt because of your job.

Tennessee employees who suffer injuries or develop an illness because of their work have the legal right to receive workers' compensation benefits. These benefits include health coverage specific to the workplace injury or work-related illness.

Whether one is a resident of Tennessee or simply traveling through the state to another destination, it is important to remain vigilant behind the wheel. Unfortunately, car accidents continue to take a toll on victims and their families on a daily basis. One recent crash killed a resident and an out-of-state traveler along a stretch of local highway.

Tennessee State Police responded to the scene of a crash that occurred along State Highway 28 just before 4 p.m. on a recent weekday. The accident report stated that a 2016 model pickup truck was towing a camper in the southbound lane of the highway. At the same time, an older model pickup was traveling in the northbound lanes. For reasons that are yet unclear, the driver of the second truck veered over and into the path of oncoming traffic. 

One of the sadder truths in life is that there are no promises of tomorrow. In reality, in spite of experience and careful consideration while behind the wheel, the actions of other motorists can lead to tragic car accidents that leave not just family, but also a community, in mourning. One such accident in Tennessee has taken the life of a dedicated police officer.

Shortly after midnight, an officer had just completed his shift and was likely headed home. While stopped at an intersection, his vehicle was struck from behind by a larger SUV. The impact caused the officer's car to overturn and slide across the roadway, killing him. A witness stated that the second driver was traveling at a high rate of speed before the collision. The motorist left his vehicle on foot and crossed the road to a nearby gas station.

There is no work environment that can be controlled enough to prevent every accident. When one's working environment includes outdoor activities, then the possibility of a Tennessee worker suffering an on-the-job injury escalates due to the unpredictability of the actions of others. When an employee does suffer an illness or injury as a direct result of one's duties, then he or she may be entitled to file a claim for benefits from the state's workers' compensation program.

Recently, a crew of sanitation workers were engaged in servicing their regularly assigned route. Their team consisted of a 42-year-old female driver and two men, aged 30 and 40, who were assigned to the rear of the truck. As they were working along a section of their route shortly after 7 a.m., the men observed a vehicle approaching in a manner that would lead to a collision with their vehicle.